JAXON JOSEPH AND THE HUMBOLDT BRONCOS CONTINUE TO BE BAFFLED BY THE BATTLEFORDS. PHOTO COURTESY MARLA POSSBERG.
The Broncos picked up another key point Saturday at home versus the Battlefords but their current curse continued.
Humboldt fell 3-2 in overtime versus the Stars at the Elgar Petersen Arena, their 16th straight loss against the reigning Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League champions. The Broncos last victory against the Stars was Jan. 28, 2015.
Head coach Darcy Haugen, who hasn’t been behind the bench for a regular season win against the Battlefords since his time in Humboldt felt Saturday should have been the one.
“I thought we played well enough to finally get the two points tonight,” he said.
Graysen Cameron returned to the Broncos’ lineup for the first time since Oct. 18, making an immediate impact. The 18 year-old Olds product scored his first goal since opening night giving Humboldt a 1-0 lead after the first period.
Layne Young tied the game in the second period but Humboldt’s Derek Patter again gave the Broncos a 2-1 lead. Kaleb Dahlgren earned his second assist of the game on Patter’s sixth of the season.
The Broncos couldn’t hold the lead; MacGregor Sinclair tied the game and forced overtime with under four minutes to play in the third period.
Overtime solved nothing despite each team receiving a power-play. Cody Spagrud scored the game winning goal in a shoot-out.
Haugen said his team worked all night.
“We had all 20 guys engaged and battled hard both offensively and defensively for 65 minutes,” Haugen said.
Jacob Wassermann stopped 31/34 shots, Stars’ goaltender Taryn Kotchorek allowed two goals on 33 Humboldt shots.
The Broncos have now dropped five straight but have a long break to work out the kinks, they host Yorkton Dec. 2.